Want to take DC out of private primary for "Gap term"

[shamal]

DC are in a private primary school.Oldest is in Y6 and will start secondary school in September. We are thinking of taking DC travelling and spending time with family abroad to improve their second language.

Ideally we would like to take them out of school for the summer term. We would HE with input from a tutor.

What are my obligations? Is there a difference between State and private schools in terms of notification, deregistration, informing LA etc? For oldest DC we would leaving the school permanently at the end of this term as Dc will move onto Senior school in September. Do we just inform the school that DC wil not be returning in Summer term? School is very strict on absences and it is a concern for youngest DD.

Thanks in advance for any help/input! Would be especially grateful to hear from anyone who has taken a "gap term" or Gap year.

There are probably others on here that will know more than me but tis is what I understand would happen in a state school. You would lose your place at the school but if a place has already been granted at a new school you wouldn't lose that. With private schools, I don't think that the LA are notified and anyway, you are free to do what you like with your children once they are out of school.

I do know people who have travelled for a year or so and have had fabulous experiences. The children learn so much. I would love to do it one day when mine are a bit older.

You don't have to do anything, other than ensure they know you are coming back and hold the place.

As you have missed the standard one clear term's notice, you'll still be bound by the contract and will have to pay for the sumner term, whether you DCs are there or not.

I dont know about the legal aspect but

Travelling is always a fantastic experience in itself. Your children will learn an enormous amount just by looking at all they see around them, the sights, the smells, the sounds. Museums to visit, trips to the theatre, books they read, games they play with children they meet etc as well as the second language practice!!!
Dont worry about hiring a tutor - Home educators who dont travel rarely do!
Travelling anywhere is such a fantastic opportunity - we are going shortly to two places in the UK and I most certainly will not be taking 'educational' stuff with us. There wont be time for a start (what with all the exploring the area etc) plus the journey, the adventure etc is an education in itself! Have lots of fun :)

You do still need to deregister in the usual way by sending a letter to the school. They may or may not bother to pass this information on to the LA; you certainly don't have to inform the LA yourself.

Aside from deregistration, your only legal obligation is to actually educate your children, and the travel will be an excellent educational experience. I really wouldn't bother with a tutor. Your kids will be getting so much benefit out of spending time with their extended family, learning more about the culture and improving their language skills that it seems a shame to get distracted with formal work.

Agree with EdithWeston that you may have left it too late to get out of paying next term's fees. Check your contract. If it says you have to give more notice you might try smiling sweetly at them and asking if they'll let you off paying. You might imply that this could affect your decision on whether to return to that school with your younger child(ren) in the autumn.

Have a great time!

I doubt you'd get let off the fees altogether, but you might be able to negotiate a discount (eg for lunches and other consumables, as your children won't actually be consuming them).

Assuming your oldest is changing schools, that bit is simple - just tell the primary school he'll be leaving on X date. The school doesn't have to inform the LEA, though they may have some procedures they've agreed themselves. (legally, there isn't actually a difference between HE and independent school....) But you will probably not get out of the fees for the summer term.

For the younger one(s) if you want the school to keep a place for them to come back to, you'll need to discuss what you are doing and make sure they're ok about it. No reason why they shouldn't be fine, but they may need to tick some boxes to satisfy their own internal rules about absence etc, specially if they are oversubscribed.

And then don't bother with a tutor - get your children to think about the places you are going, and make "projects" about whatever aspects of it they find interesting (history, local customs, food....). That and translating money and time zones should be plenty of academic stuff for them (and you) to have to bother with.

Thank you for all your positive and encouraging comments!

One more question: Will the new secondary school require end-of-year school report from my Y6 child's current school? (the current school already sent references for 11+ admission prior to interviews). Should I inform the new school that we are going away and missing the last term of Y6?

Thank you!

You should inform the new school, for the simple reason that they may need to contact you in the run up to the actual start date, and they need to know where you are (at least to the extent of how to contact you, and where to send anything that needs to be in hard copy).